Mail-bag.



O. A. L. KIRKPATRICK.

MAIL BAG.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1913.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

[NVENTOR aivzof CIA.L

WliwsgsEs A tz'orney v UNITED STATES gum OFFICE.

CHARLES A. L. KIRKPATRICK-OF VALPAR AISO, INDIANA.

MAIL-BM}.

Specification of Letters intent.

Patented Aug. 26,1913.

Application filed January 20, 1913 Serial No. 743,109.

To all whom it may concern:

,dBe it known that 1, CHARLES A. L. KIRK- PATRICK, a citizen of theUnited States, re-

sidin at Valparaiso, in the county of Porter will support the bag insuch a manner as to particularly facilitate the distribution of articlesof parcel post in railroad post-oifice cars, storage cars, andpost-offices, and is so constructed that in these places, where economyof space is necessary, the frames may be placed. one upon another withthe bag opening facing the aisle so that the articles may be .readily'distributed for the respective routes and post-offices, or each framemay stand upon the floor and the bag opening uppermost for the receptionof the articles being distributed, and when not in use the frames may bequickly closed up and piledvone upon another to occupy the leastpossible floor space.

It is a further object to so connect the mail bag to the folding framethat when the .frame is opened it supports the bag in dis tendedposition and yet allow the bag openmg to be closed, locked and labeledin the usual manner and will protect the contents of the bag againstoutward pressure, also when despatched or received the style of the bagand frame will immediately indicate that it contains parcel post matter.

While the preferred forms of this invention are illustrated upon theaccompanying sheet of drawing, yet it is to be understood that minordetail changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of this device with the frame extendedsupporting a mail bag, closed, locked and labeled in the usual manner.Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bag and frame in folded orcollapsed position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view partly in sectionand with parts broken away showing the means for attaching the ,bag tothe frame.

The bag 1 may be in the form of the mail bag now in general use providedwith the usual closing, locking and labeling means,

01' may be of that shape most advantageous for the purpose desired.

The bag l'is supported in a frame comprising rectangular vertical sidemembers 2, preferably formed of lightangle irons, attached to each otherat opposite ends in such a manner-:5 as to allow the sides to be foldedor brought together or extended and held rigidly apart. To this end apair of centrally pivoted links 3 are pivotally attached at their freeend to the bottom of adjacent ends of the side members 2, and anotherpair of centrally pivoted links 4 are similarly attached near the top ofsaid members, so that when the links are straightened out the frame willbe in extended position and when broken the frame may be-folded orcollapsed.

, An operating rod 5 is pivotally connected to the central joints of thelinks 3 and-4 on each end and is provided with a look at the top joint,said lock preferably comprising a butterfly nut 6 upon the pivotal bolt.In order to rigidly secure the side members in extended rectangularrelation, the operating site corners of each side member 2, which arepreferably constructed, as shown in Fig. 1, to meet in the horizontalflat connection to which a handle 11 may be attached. To

facilitate the moving of the loaded bags casters 12 may be secured tothe lower cornersof the side members 2.

The bag 1 is preferably attached to the frame by forming a tuck 13 inthe opposite sides of the bag, passing a rod 14 therethrough andsecuring the ends of the rod to the angle iron forming the ends of theside members close under the angle irons form ing the top of the side 1.The position of the tuck 13 is such that the bag will fall freely to thebottom of the extended frame and also allow suflicient material abovethe tuck so that the opening of the bag may be closed in the usualmanner of mail bags.

If desired the lower corners of the bag may also be provided with a tuckand rod secured,

to the bottom of the side members to retain ing rod 5 pulled upwardbreaking the links 3 and 4 in unison, and the sliding member 7 of thebrace rods 8 will travel over the operating rod allowing the sidemembers to approach each other folding the bag inbetween them to form acompact flat body.

What I claim is:

1. A folding bag frame comprising vertical side members, means forattaching a bag to said members, a plurality of jointed links forextending said members, means pivotally connected to the central jointof the links for operating said links in unison, and means for holdingthe said links in extended position.

2. A folding bag frame comprising vertical side members, means forattaching a bag to said members, a plurality of jointed 3. A protectingframe and support for 1 bags comprising an external frame, and means forsupporting a bag therein, said frame having spaced apart side membersprovided with diagonal braces with a handle at their j ointure, jointedlinks connected to the opposite tops and bottoms of the ends of saidside members, an operating rod connecting the pivotal joints of saidlinks provided with a lock, brace rods having a sliding connection withsaid operating rod pivoted to the lower pivotal point of the lower linksupon the side members and a lock upon said sliding connection.-

CHARLES A. L. KIRKPATRICK.

Witnesses BEN F. SMITH,

E. WV. AGAR.

